Stretching and shaping form for neckties



Sept. 22, 1953 w. L. RIECK 2,652,956

STRETCHING AND SHAPING FORM FOR NECKTIES Filed April 18, 1952 I Fig 2 m IL' /2 1e /4 l6 l2 I4 I 20 I I /0 l I I g y I I I5 I I I I I I I l l I l I a I I I I 48 44 T F T I 32' 34+ I 351: I

I I I ,x28 I I 30/I swim ,I/30 I 24 PI 28 r30 William L. mask 3 INVENTOR.

Patented Sept. 22, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STRETCHING AND SHAPING FORM FOR NECKTIES 2 Claims.

The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in readily insertable and'removable forms for the apron portion of a four-in-hand necktie wherein, through the medium of advanced structural adaptations, more satisfactory stretching and shaping results are assured.

As the introductory statement implies, the art to which the invention relates comprises many and varied styles and forms of necktie stretchers and shapers which are referred to as presses, stretchers, shape restorers and so on. Often, however, prior art constructions are not without structural faults and it would appear that such devices have failed to qualify for one reason or another for which reasons they have not come into widespread use. It is an object of the instant invention to structurally, functionally and in other ways to improve on known prior art constructions and, in so doing, to provide a more feasible and practical device in which manufacturers, retailers and users will find their respective needs more aptly met.

More specifically, one improvement has to do with an expansible and contractible form wherein rigid blade-like bars are utilized. These are spring connected and the outwardly facing longitudinal edge portions are feather-edged in construction for purposes of providing knife-like edges which make for better creases along the longitudinal marginal folds of the necktie apron.

Another object of the invention has to do with the stated blade-like bars which are rigid and linearly straight and which have their opposed inner longitudinal edges formed into tubular beads. The beads are provided at selected points with pairs of apertures to accommodate laterally bent terminals on simple bowed springs to be conveniently inserted and effectively anchored in cooperating portions of the beads.

A further object of the invention has to do with hold-down means for the usual inturned flaps on the underneath side of the associated apron. Specifically, the means is an L-shaped arm rigidly secured to one bar and situated between both bars and provided with pins to accommodate the aforementioned flaps.

A further object of the invention is to provide a form with the stated features which may be safely inserted and removed and which lends itself to practical use during the period the tie is Washed or cleaned until it is fully dry, reshaped and made ready for use.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the follow- 2 ing description and the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a top plan view showing the necktie in dotted lines with the companion large and small forms, the manner in which they are used and specifically constructed.

Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-section taken on the plane of the line 2--2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional and elevational view taken on the vertical line 3-3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Inthe drawings in Figure 1 the necktie is denoted by the numeral 4 and is a common four-inhand type and includes a wide principa1 apron t and a narrow auxiliary and complemental apron 8. Some neckties are lined and others are not, and, of course, the details of construction of the tie are of no consequence except to say that the forms which are herein disclosed are free of irregularities and undesirable projections so that an expensive and delicate tie, and all other types, will rarely be damaged through the use of these improved forms. Both forms are the same in construction and a description for one will suffice for both. To this end, the form at the right in Figure 1 is denoted by the numeral l6 and comprises a pair of rigid blade-like bars [2 and [4 respectively. These bars are of light weight but strong materials and are, as are the other parts, made of materials which are rustproof and otherwise stainless in character. Each bar has its outer edge of feather-edged construction as denoted at It and this provides the creasing knife. The inner longitudinal edge portions are formed into tubular beads l8-l8. These beads serve to accommodate and anchor the transversely disposed longitudinal spaced expansion springs 20, 22 and 24 respectively. They are preferably arranged distances apart to provide the over-all uniform expansible characteristics required. Specifically, each spring is a longitudinally bowed resilient wire 26 which has laterally bent attaching and anchoring ends 28. These ends or terminals are passed through apertures or openings 30 provided therefor in the respective beads. The ends are simply inserted and retained in the beads in the manner illustrated. If desired, where the apertures are made sufiiciently large for ready insertion, the apertures may be clenched or pinched toinsure more eifective maintenance of the wire-ends.

The hold-down means for the apron flap is denoted as a unit by the numeral 32. It comprises an L-shaped arm whose long limb 34 is arranged in coplanar relationship between the respective bars [2 and M. The limb is provided with spurs or pins 36 to accommodate the flaps (not detailed). The short right angularly disposed limb of the arm is denoted at 3,8 and this has its end welded or otherwise fastened at 4%] to the adjacent beads iii of the bar l4. There is a complemental link or brace provided at 42 and has its end 44 anchored on the bead and has a slotted end portion 46 which overlaps the limb ii] and is attached thereto by a rivet or equivalent headed fastener 48. This arrangement stabilizes the bars in an obvious fashion and'also provides a convenient handle for inserting and removing the complete form.

lhese types of devices, as previously stated, are old and well known and their manner of use and end results achieved from such use will be fully understood by persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Minor changes in shape, size, materials and rearrangement of parts may be resorted to in actual practice provided no departure is made from the invention as claimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A readily insertable and withdrawable press for a four-in-hand necktie comprising a form embodying a pair of coplanar spring biased stretcher bars, and an L-shaped arm, having a short limb secured to an intermediate portion of one bar and extending at right angles from said one bar, a long limb situated in spaced relation between said bars and provided with holddown pins for a flap, and a complemental link secured to the intermediate portion of the other bar and extending at right angles therefrom, said link having a slotted end portion overlapping and adjustably fastened to said short limb, said bars being linearly straight and rigid, the outwardly disposed longitudinal edges being of knifelike form.

2. A readily insertable and removable shaping form for an apron of a four-in-hand necktie comprising a pair of duplicate elongated bars, the latter being rigid and having rolled tubular beads along their respective inwardly disposed longitudinal edges, the respective beads having apertures with one aperture located opposite to the other aperture, an arcuate bowed spring interposed between said bars and coplanar with the bars, said spring having laterally bent terminal ends and the latter extending through their respective apertures and in this manner being anchored in their respective beads, an L.-shaped arm having a short limb secured to an intermediate portion of one bar and extending at right angles from said one bar, and a long limb situated in spaced relation between said bars and provided with outstanding flap hold-down pins, and a complemental link secured to the intermediate portion of the other bar and extending at right angles therefrom, said link having a slotted end portion overlapping and adjustably fastened to said short limb.

WILLIAM L. RIECK.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,393,84t8 Strong Oct. 18, 1921 1,777,149 Owens Sept. 30, 1930 

